Mobile material screening tower

ABSTRACT

A portable screening tower for mounting on a wheeled vehicle having a first framework connected to ground engagement means for supporting said tower in use, a second framework movable vertically with respect to the first framework and having a material screening facility mounted thereon.

United States Patent 1 Thompson 51 Sept. 30, 1975 MOBILE MATERIAL SCREENING TOWER [76] Inventor: Floyd Edwin Thompson, 2004 Broadlawn, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 221 Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 211 Appl. No; 423,389

[52] US. Cl 209/412; 209/421 [51] Int. Cl B07b H46 [58] Field of Search 209/240, 244, 412, 413,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,964,894 7/1934 Rohne 296/23 C 2,168,062 8/1939 Davey 296/23 C 2,588,088 3/1952 Cover 209/415 X 2,624,517 l/l953 Smith 209/413 X 2,811,268 10/1957 Kayser 214/512 3,000,664 9/1961 Martin 296/23 C 3,439,806 4/1969 Kass 209/420 X 3,687,321 8/1972 Goodhart.... 214/512 3,768,628 10/1973 Bross 214/512 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 180,049 4/1954 Austria 209/413 115,845 2/ 1946 Sweden 209/420 Primary E.\'aminerRobert Halper Attorney, Agent, or F irmJohn J. Byrne; Edward E. Dyson [57] ABSTRACT A portable screening tower for mounting on a wheeled vehicle having a first framework connected to ground engagement means for supporting said tower in use, a second framework movable vertically with respect to the first framework and having a material screening facility mounted thereon.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,909,401

U.S. Patant Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,909,401

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,909,401

:U I l l l I I l ll C l m MOBILE MATERIAL SCREENING TOWER This invention relates to a mobile material screening device for separation purposes such as that used in connection withdredging operations and sand washing arrangements.

The prior art knows of many working devices for separating either a dryor wet material into various grades of gravel and sand. However, the' equipment of the prior art is large and cumbersome. The prior art equipment is difficult to transport'and to erect without serious time-consuming. requirements.

The principal objective of this invention is to provide a mobile screening device which is usable in a variety of environments and will have height and length requirements which meet current standards of highway travel. Although meeting the legal requirements of highway travel, an efficient and rugged screening tower is provided which is not less efficient than those of conventional design. I

An important objective of this invention is to provide framework suitable for securement to a truck bed having a telescoping section supporting a material screening mechanism which is nested within the main framework during travel and can be extended to a tower-like arrangement when in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the type described having a water supply conduit attached to the movable framework that has nozzle means for delivering water to the screening apparatus and has its inlet end disposed for connection to a water supply.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a pivotal discharge chute which extends outwardly over the cab of a supporting vehicle in the travel position and which assumes its working position upon the raising of the framework carrying the material screening apparatus.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a cable and sheave arrangement for elevating the material screen mechanism which arrangement can be powered from the engine of the vehicle.

A still further objective of the invention is to provide a pivotal material receiving hopper which is efiiciently erected into a use position from a nested travel position.

According to one preferred embodiment of this invention a sturdy framework is securely fastened to the bed of a vehicle so that the material screening mechanism is carried directly on the bed framework of its prime mover and the prime mover is utilized as a supporting member at the area of operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in its operating position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention in its travel position;

FIG. 3 is a floating perspective of the cable system; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the locking system.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, a vehicle assembly incorporating the essentials of this invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. A truck 12 having a cab 14 and a bed portion 16 is the supporting structure for the operating member. The vehicle includes ground-engaging wheels 18 providing support and mobility. A- first framework 20 consists of l-beams 22, 24, 26, and 28. The beams are secured to forward and trailin'g'bearn members 30 and 32 of the bed 16. The beams 22-28 are reinforced by cross struts 34, 36, 38, and 40. The junctures of the beams and struts are further secured by spanner plates all of which are indicated by the numeral 42.

Cavities of I-beams 22 and 28 face each other as do the U-shap'ed cavities of beams 24 and 26. In other words, the flanges of the I-beams are in the direction of travel and the webs thereof are parallel to one another and transverse to the direction of travel.

A second framework 44 is slidably received within the framework 20. Framework 44 consists primarily of I-beams 52, 54, 56 and 58. Each I-beam has one of its flanges respectively received within the cavities of the first framework beams 22, 24, 26, and 28.

The upper framework 44 is also provided with cross struts 60 and 62 between beams 52 and 56 and cross struts 64 and 66 between beams 54 and 58. Intermediate the vertical length of the framework 44 is a supporting platform 65. Platform is rigidly secured to the upper framework 44 and carries a material screening apparatus 70 of conventional design. Extending between the tops of beams 52 and 56 is a cross-bar 72 and extending between beams 54 and 58; is a cross-bar 74.

Pivotally secured between the cross-bars 72 and 74 is a collapsible hopper 76 for receiving and guiding the materials to be screened.

Mounted immediately below cross-bar 72 is a conduit 78 having a plurality of nozzle members 80 disposed above screening mechanism 70. This substantially rigid conduit member has a downwardly extendingleg 82 having a fitting 84 thereon for connection to a water supply via a flexible hose 85.

Between beams 56 and S8 is a cross-bar 86 having a gravel chute 88 pivotally connected thereto at lug members 90 and 92. A platform 94 is secured over the cab 14 by way of the frameworks generally indicated by the numeral 96 and 98. As seen best in FIG. 2, the chute is permitted to extend outwardly over the cab during travel.

Secured near the lower end of beams 26 and 22 are winches 99a and 99b for cable drums 100a and 100b, respectively. Secured near the lower ends of beams 28 and 24 are winches 99c and 99d for cable drums l00c and 100d respectively. Similar winches and drums 102a-d and l04ad are secured near the upper ends of beams 22, 24, 26, and 28. At the lower ends of beams 52, 54, 56, and 58 are housings and sheaves I06ad and 108a-d. As seen best in FIG. 3, a cable 110 wound about sheave 100C extends upwardly about sheave 104c downwardly about sheave I080 (mounted to lower end of beam 56) and the cable I10 then extends upwardly where its outer end is clamped to the upper end of beam 26 by clamp 112v.

Drums 100 are conveniently driven by a power takeoff from vehicle 12 or independent hydraulic motors. It can readily be seen that when sheaves 100C and 100d are driven in a wind-up direction, sheaves 108 and beams 56 and 58 (and consequently the entire upper framework) is lifted. When the cable is payed-out the upper framework is lowered. As seen best in FIG. 4, the framework 52 can be locked in its upper position by inserting bolts through matching openings in beams 22 (24 and 52 (54 This will relieve the tension on the cable system and insure that the upper framework will maintain its upper position until the units is to be moved.

As seen in FIG. 2 the mobile screening tower 70 is in its nested, travel position. The gravel chute 88 extends outwardly over cab 14 and rests on the platform 94. The hopper 76 is folded down over screening device 70. The second framework 44 is nested within the framework and the platform 76 rests on bed 16. In this position, all highway regulations as to height, weight, and length can be satisfied and the unit is securely supported on the vehicle.

When the truck, reaches the site of operation, the cable sheaves 100 are operated and the framework 44 and the parts supported thereby are elevated. The gravel chute 88 assumes the position of FIG. 1 and the hopper 76 is raised to its material-receiving position. The water inlet 114 is connected to a water supply. It should also be noted that the beams 22, 24, 26 and 28 extend below the bed 16 and the bottomed by plates 116. Jacks, four-by-fours, or other members can be wedged under such plates for additional support and stability.

In a general manner while there has been disclosed an effective and efficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limted to such an embodiment as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A portable material screening tower comprising a base,

a plurality of wheel members supported on said base,

a first vertically disposed framework having its lower end secured to said base,

a second vertically disposed framework telescopically received by said first framework,

power means to raise and lower said second framework with respect to said first framework,

a material screening mechanism having a discharge end and a second end and means securing said screening mechanism to said second framework,

a material reception hopper having means pivotally securing said hopper to the upper end of said second framework and having one position for receiving the unscreened material and guiding same to said mechanism,

a discharge chute extending outwardly from said discharge end of said material screening mechanism,

means pivotally connecting said chute to said second framework,

a water conduit having inlet and discharge nozzles,

means affixing said conduit to said second framework wherein said nozzles are disposed above and directed at said mechanism and said inlet is disposed near the lower end of said second framework.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said base is the bed portion of a truck, a third framework extends outwardly over the cab portion of said truck and said pivotally connecting means mounts said discharge chute in a generally horizontal travel position in engagement with said third framework and in a working, generally vertical position.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said power means includes the engine of said truck.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said power means further includes cable and sheave means interconnecting said first and second vertically disposed frameworks. 

1. A PORTABLE MATERIAL SCREENING TOWER COMPRISING A BASE, A PLURALITY OF WHEEL MEMBERS SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE, A FIRST VERTICALLY DISPOSED FRAMEWORK HAVING ITS LOWER END SECURED TO SAID BASE, A SECOND VERTIALLY DISPOSED FRAMWORK TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVED BY SAID FIRST FRAMEWORK. POWER MEANS TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID SECOND FRAMEWORK WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST FRAMEWORK, A MATERIA SCREENING MECHANISM HAVING A DISCHARGED END AND A SECOND END AND MEANS SECURING SAID SCREENING MECHANISM TO SAID SECOND FRAMEWORK A MATERIAL RECEPTION HOPPER HAVING MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID HOPPER TO THE UPPER END OF SAID SECOND FRAMEWORK AND HAVING ONE POSITION FOR RECEIVING THE UNSCREENED MATERIAL AND GUIDING SAME TO SAID MECHANISM, A DISCHARGED CHUTE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID DISCHARGE END OF SAID MATERIAL SCREENING MECHANISM, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID CHUTE TO SAID SECOND FRAMEWORK, A WATER CONDUIT HAVING INLET AND DISCHARGE NOZZLES, MEANS AFFIXING SAID CONDUIT TO SAID SECOND FRAMEWORK WHEREIN SAID NOZZLES ARE DISPOSED ABOVE AND DIRECTED AT SAID MECHANISM AND SAID INLET IS DISPOSED NEAR THE LOWER END OF SAID SECOND FRAMEWORK.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said base is the bed portion of a truck, a third framework extends outwardly over the cab portion of said truck and said pivotally connecting means mounts said discharge chute in a generally horizontal travel position in engagement with said third framework and in a working, generally vertical position.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said power means includes the engine of said truck.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said power means further includes cable and sheave means interconnecting said first and second vertically disposed frameworks. 